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Sex Is A Part Of Games: Get Over It

Listen up, people: there's this little thing called overcompensation. You learn about it in Psychology 101; you don't need my full-fledged degree to understand the concept. I refuse to define it (if you need help, Google it or better yet, open an effing book), and I'll just assume you're familiar with the term, anyway...and there is no better explanation for all these self-righteous articles concerning sexual situations in video games.

You'll see them pop up every time a controversial game scene gets any press. The authors desperately attempt to be the rational, adult voices of reason by standing atop their soapbox and proclaiming, "we don't need that in games!" and "it doesn't make the game any better" and "we're not all adolescents with raging hormones." In response to the latter, no, you're not, but the vast majority of avid gamers are still male, and the vast majority of those males fall into the 18-35 age group. If you combine this with the painfully obvious fact that gaming is a massive multi-billion-dollar industry, the business angle is assured. It's something Hollywood has been doing for decades and to think gaming is somehow "above" that is absurd, and it's equally absurd to believe the sexual content in gaming is in some way "demeaning" either the product itself or the player. We're not children anymore; we're mature individuals who can process such information in an appropriate manner. And the rating system tries to insure that such content won't be seen by those too young to correctly process that information.

For the record, I'm not condoning the idea of creating a game based entirely around sex. ...but how many of those have there been? Like 6? This is not an issue in our industry; there is not a sudden, disgusting, uncalled-for influx of sex and filth in our video games, so stop pretending as if there is. Yes, with advanced technology and as games creep ever closer to film, you will see more sexual content on our screens when interacting with video media. "Sex sells" has never been truer, and until I see significant evidence of major "sex titles" that actually score well and fare well on the sales charts, I am not about to say there's an issue. Nobody is going to play God of War III for the breasts. Nobody. Everybody played BMX XXX for the T&A but how many "everybodys" were there? 22? That alone proves that gamers are interested in the interactive, immersion-based aspects of video games, so we needn't defend ourselves for no reason.

And lastly, let's just face it: the dude writing the anti-sex gaming article is the 19-year-old computer science major, living at home and feigning maturity in order to potentially gain the respect of others and even the interest of females. It's the same idea as two guys checking out a PlayBoy in a store and one of their girlfriends walks in, and the chick's boyfriend suddenly goes, "yeah man, how can you read this crap?" It's transparent and it's overcompensating. The worst part is this: those who are mature, secure, and well-adjusted see directly through those complaining articles. They see through them as easily as a parent sees through a child's lie ("no mom, I didn't take the candy bar," with chocolate all over his face). There may be sex scenes in games, but if the game is bad, nobody gives a crap. If the game is good, it's just there; it's hardly a focal point. This is the way things are currently and until it changes, I won't be standing on a high-and-mighty soapbox.

Common sense will recognize a problem. Overreacting to a brief sex scene or even random nudity in games is the act of someone who has an ulterior motive. Plain and simple.

As much as I doubt you'd be this ignorant Ben, but from reading this article it's almost as if you assume every male gamer is heterosexual, which can be taken the wrong way by a lot of people. I know you didn't mean it that way, I'm just saying what's said needs to be watched every once in a while. It's like that new Johnson's commercial where it says "a girl will be more interesting than a rubber duck", who knows if the kid's gunna turn out straight? It's like media is ignoring the fact that people can be homosexual, as to protect children from the idea or something, and personally I think it needs to stop. People wonder why kids thinks there's something wrong with being gay, yet the media never openly speaks of it so how are they supposed to know it's normal? Sure teachers and parents will say it's ok, but kids nowadays will believe the media over their elders any day. ANYWAY, this rant brought to you by minor observations by me being bored at 2 in the morning. My point though, I know you didn't mean it that way Ben, but it's an issue I think needs to be addressed. Thanks to anyone who actually takes the time to read this.

I will be perfectly honest with you: I think the entire country is plenty pro-gay enough.

In fact, I dare say it's much "hipper" to be gay than straight these days. At this point, the media is almost telling kids there's something wrong with being STRAIGHT. So no, I'm sorry, but I won't be bringing it into the limelight more than it already is. We're already bludgeoned over the head with it.Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 7/6/2009 12:03:36 AM

I think you're being a little ridiculous. You're coming off like the guy that watches a Budweiser commercial that contains 2 white guys, a black guy, and an Asian guy and complains about there being 2 white guys. Would you like Johnson to have a disclaimer at the bottom of the screen letting everyone know they are pro homosexuality?

Just because a form of media does not contain a specific demographic of society does not mean it isn't in favor for that specific group.

@ Ben.Thank god. I am not the only one to notice the rise of bisexuality/homosexuality. (Not that thats a bad thing, I know that love can be anywhere.) But it seems to me that there are tons more then 10 years ago. And thats saying alot.

Funny thing is Homosexuals are the only ones that fly flags about there orientation. Maybe I should make one of being straight!?

Nature is um...natural. Why should we conform to the minority? It is choice though, just don't make the people who feel it is disgusting (being gay) have to be reminded of it ALL the f-ing time. That should be a right to us.Last edited by Wage SLAVES on 7/6/2009 1:50:40 AM

You Americans just don't see what your media is doing to you people. I really always sit back and pity all you a lot, its not your fault but your media keeps talking about gays like "Oh the governor admits he's gay" and everybody is happy. Your media make it seem gay is so cool than being straight.

If its not about gay, its about fat people who need to slim down, me personally am not fat but your media is constantly pressurizing the obese which is a very very bad thing.

Its sometimes painful my favorite series GTA likes to incorporate all these into its games. I have no problem with the sex scenes but GTAIV for instance had almost everybody picking on Roman cause he's fat. Now they have a new DLC coming like Ballad of Gay Tony not forgetting Brucie was also gay, all these don't bother me cause am straight and am not fat but the constant referral to these issues is getting boring.

If you want to see the most horrified faces that a group of Americans can make, surprise them with an image of full frontal nudity of either sex. You'll never see more shock, fear, horror, disgust or anger.

I think sex in fine in games as long as it fits in the game and its not just thrown in there just to be pointless.. I mean the average age of a gamers these days is what 30 now? (Correct me if I'm wrong) and isn't that what that that fat M on the box from ESRB saying hey this is not for anyone under 17? Its like complaining rated R movies have too many sexual themes and should be tone down for kids.

Oh well the only reason why sex in video games is even a topic is that its easier to attack than real issues going on in the world and the US. Hollow battles.

Well I've never been politically correct & I'm not about to start now....

I really don't give a damn if someone is gay, but you don't need to let the whole wide world in on your lil not-so-secret, & I certainly don't want to know about it.

FYI, not since Jeffery Dalmer have I ever wanted to know what body parts you've been munching out on, nor do I frigging care if you ARE in love with Oscar Mayer's weiner!!!!!

Keep your business in your own bedroom, or at least private, & stop advertizing your preference to the whole wide world like it's a coat-of-arms banner that you've finally let the sun's rays peek into your wardrobe closet.

BTW, as for myself..... I do have a thing for beautiful lesbians though(but only for the fem side of the 2 gals!!! (Hmmm, maybe I should buy a coat-of arms lesbian banner & start advertizing my preferance too).Last edited by BikerSaint on 7/6/2009 1:46:02 AM

Lesbian sex, video games, and food. That is perfect. Just to let everyone know, im straight. Riku? more like Rico the Puerto Rican gay gardener, Owner of House: Rico grab that shovel and put it next to your hoe. Rico: what do you want me to do with that shovel sir? Put in my hole? Owner: What? hell no! Rico: Are you sure? HAHA! future sitcom right there.

I find it amazing that in todays world, a gay man can put his junk into another mans balloon knot yet I and many others are the ones who are considered sick for thinking that gay sex is gross. Lol. The world is upside down my friends.

I don't have any problems with gays other then the fact that some(not all)but some accuse me and others for forcing our traditions on them yet they're the ones trying to change a tradition that been around since, I don't know, THE BEGINNING OF TIME!! they are masters at projection. They accuse the other side of doing exaclty what are are guilty of doing. they call us bigots yet they have some of the nastiest people representing their side like that turd Perez Hilton who finally got his just dessert by Will.I.Am from that Black Eyed Peas.

All in all gays can do what they want. They just need to stop trying to force the rest of us to like it and stop trying to get the public schools to brain wash our children into thinking gay relationships are normal and healthy. Cause it's obvious that they are not.

imo the human body is art, and imo so are video games, its just art meeting art. Thats the way it should be, personally i think kids should be allowed to see sex on TV and movies. Its nature, its no different then going to the Discovery channel and seeing two animals having sex. Get over it, sex isnt a big deal. Its just nature. Let it be. Im glad developers are pushing the envelope and exposing kids to stuff there sheltered eyes never got to see before.

I dunno, nudity is fine i guess, but actually controlling a character having sex... its a little immoral isnt it and.... quite pathetic. its not something you want to control in the family living room lol.

I love how everyone in this thread starts out saying "I don't have anything against gays..." then spouts off several things they DO have against gays. lol

I don't have an "agenda" beyond living the happiest life I can, with the one I love (and fitting in a vid game here and there.) The one I love just happens to be a big bear of a man. Don't be afraid, it didn't affect you when you didn't know, and it doesn't affect you now.

We've never attended meetings with the main topic of "trying to get the public schools to brain wash our children into thinking gay relationships are normal and healthy." No more than so than our recent ancestors attended meetings trying to introduce the "evil" of interacial relationships to their children. It's a natural progression.

People fear what they don't understand. The point of gay pride parades and flags is not to force people to like gays, but to force them to recognize that we exist, we are real people, and it's not nearly as rare as some once thought. Gay pride events aren't about making people gay or flaunting our sexuality, they're supposed to be a beacon of hope for the younger generation, to let them know they're not alone. That there are those who will love them for who they are, not what someone wants or expects them to be.

Do some gay people take it a bit too far and give a bad impression? Sure. But there's plenty of those on the hetero side of things as well. But I'd hate to think we judge a whole group by the actions of a few.

If you want to wave your "Straight for Life!" banner, I have no problem with that. But do it because you are proud of who you are, not because "it's what the gays are doing."

And that's something to be condemned by all, but don't act like no one's ever threatened a gay person before. Again, I hope we don't judge all by the actions of a few.

If people are slaves to their dogmatic religions and vote accordingly, that's sad, but is their right. I also felt it was lamentable that such a large portion of California's black population voted to restrict the rights of another group, but I guess some people don't learn from the mistakes of others. I don't hate them for their decision, but I do feel they based that decision on fear and misunderstanding.

Threats of violence are never the right answer and should not be tolerated. I read an article at the time of those who had made a listing of business owners who supported prop 8 with donations (donations were public knowledge.) They decided to show their dissatisfaction by boycotting said businesses. This is not only their right, but a non-violent way to voice their opinions. They chose not to support a business that didn't support them, and maybe those business owners now realize just how many dollars were coming to them from the hands of those they voted against.

Eventually this will all be old-hat. The world's descendents will look back and wonder how we could ever have been so devisive as a people. I mean just look at the hate that some people spew over which console is better! I just think that people should learn to love themselves and respect others, and the world would be a better place.

Might we direct you to the website of the Westboro Baptist Church, Jawknee.

The real shame of California is that the people were chosen to vote on an issue that's constitutional and should have nothing to do with what the people want. It's that "all men are created equal" part.

lol read the California State constitution, there is and never was a "right" for same sex marriage. Governments job is to remain neutral. and i never pretend gays havent been attacked. read my post again.

I don't mind having anything sexual in games but I think less sex video game is better for bitness, since parents are the one buying the kids their videa games and of course their going to choose the more friendly one. that's how the wii is winning the money

i know i misspelled some words but that's how i like writing its coolerLast edited by RustEDalex on 7/6/2009 6:24:15 AM

Don't have no problem with sex scenes at all but it shouldn't be a gay sex scene never. Am not against gays but its best they keep that thing on the low, they getting too much publicity.

Was it necessary to have a nude guy talking to Johnny in Lost & Damned? I don't think so. Rockstar loves to put current situations going on in real life into their games,is not bad but they might be adding more to the media's stupidness. We have Brucie constantly forcing Niko to touch his pecs,abs whatever,what are the kids gonna think when they see this. Yea i know that's why GTAIV got an 18+ rating but some kids still play it and might not get what's going on.This gay sh*t is getting too far.I still love my GTAIV though.

I could swear there lotta guys who were originally straight but turned gay because the media made it seem like the new thing,damn!

Quote from Niko Bellic:"Your country, it makes people sick!"Last edited by www on 7/6/2009 7:27:00 AM

If someone wants to do a game about gay characters I don't have a problem with that - though I won't be buying it personally. But if they do, at least mark it very clearly so that parents and consumers can make an informed decision.

If games are becoming a legitimate art form of drama and media in the same ways that movies and TV have. Then games need to reflect society, and the issues society faces. That's all part of the maturing of video games in society.

I do my best to hold video games to essentially the same standards as novels or cinema. And I don't mind if there's sexuality in a game (though nudity I don't understand at all in most cases), so long as it has something to do with the plot ('Indigo Prophecy', 'Mass Effect').

And I'm not exactly sure who these 'mature individuals' are. Not to say that there aren't such people in the gaming world, but they make up a small minority (which becomes painfully obvious when games marketed to young children and near-mindless shooters are usually the ones that sell gangbusters, while the truly 'mature' titles are extraordinarily fortunate to hit a couple million).

Also, I don't think that just because something is common means we should just let it go. I realize that intercourse is a huge selling point, but I'm still against the generally negative portrayals of it in all mediums. And I'm not a 19 year-old computer science major or any of the things listed in your article. I simply have a firm belief, and I'm not backing down from it.

And just in case somebody wants to go there (somebody almost always does), I am against the casual treatment of violence in all mediums as well.Last edited by Jalex on 7/6/2009 7:58:17 AM

My only problem with sex in games is that the Rating system is utterly broken. No one ever enforces it and you end up with 12 year old boys playing games like GTA or Saints Row. I think a lot of the blame can be landed on the parents but also cause games have been traditionally marketed towards children the lack of ratings enforcement can also be blamed. Either the developers need to clean up their games or the ratings system needs to be inforced. Parents also need to educat themselves about the content in the kinds of games their kids want to play. I suppose my generation will be better at enforcement due to the fact we play more games then my parents did. Well see.

What enforcement? Once a product is sold to an adult, there is no enforcement, if a product is legal, once it's in the home, who governs it's use? The ESRB ratings could be legally enforced at the point of sale with a 100% success rate and parents would still let their little darlings play GTA or Halo, or whatever. The solution is not more legislation, it's social change where parents take an active role along side the voluntary rating system. If parents are dummies, no amount of law making will stop them being dummies.

Parents today seem to want to be able to abdicate their parental role and responsibility and blame anyone and everyone else for their own failing.

Yes, and the game console used is in the child's home which is a domain ruled by the parent. So even if GameStop sell the game to a kid, it's still the parent's responsibility to know what their children buy and govern it's use.

I agree, the approach of "sex doesn't need to be in video games" is a personal opinion some people try and force on others. Other people have the right to put sex into video games, if you don't like it, you have the right not to play the game. There are still a TON of non-sexual content video games out there. It's not like people are shoving sexual games down your throat.

Also, as an adult who grew up without video game ratings, I really like the current video game ratings system. So when I have young children, I'll be able to identify games that are too gorey or too sexual for them.

Allow me to interject some sense here, the non gaming public still suffers from the delusion that gaming is an activity for bored children and not a legitimate hobby for adults. So any nudity is automatically condemned because kids will see it, because only children play video games right? It's just ignorance. Tits in games is fine, whether I'm 12 or 30 if I really wanna see tits there's this thing called the "internet."

Tits in a game is fine. I come from a country where the daily tabloid newspapers featured a rather nice pair of tits every day in full color for years and years, and before that they were in good old monochrome. Eventually you learn that a pair of tits is just a pair of tits - every woman, and some men have them.

Why are people so tolerant of violence and death and intolerant of the human form?

@ World so true. the little ESRB rating is their for a reason if people dont' want to see blood,guts,nudity,sex ect.... follow the ESRB rating and now they even put why they are rating it, if you can't read it then dont buy it if you don't understand when it says "M" for sex,blood ect... ASK!

Alright, first comment after a long weekend, here's a voice of maturity.

Video games are awash in violence and death and yet every time there is a hint of sexuality or sexiness the prudes crawl out of the wood work to decry it.

Tell me which is worse for people? A constant diet of depictions of violence and death or a constant diet of of sex and sexuality?

Are people really saying that they'd prefer to watch and enjoy depictions of the taking of lives instead of depictions of activities likely to result in the creation of life? Seriously, which is better for humanity, taking lives or creating them? That's kinda what it comes down to.

I'm a parent, and I can say with a clear conscience I'd rather my son was sneakily watching the playboy channel than watching some of the overly violent and gory movies, or for that matter playing any of the overly violent games around.

As for the moral issues, morals be damned, no one will ever convince me of the moral superiority of violence over sex. I'm not saying that I necessarily think we should be awash in sexually explicit material either. I'd prefer both to be used as spice to accentuate drama. However, there is a massive tolerance for explicit violence and death in entertainment, and almost no tolerance at all for 'sexy' or sexually explicit. I think that it's incredibly hypocritical of those who decry sex but tolerate violence to act as they do.

Remember Hot Coffee? It was a firestorm about a consensual act of sex in a game (Grand Theft Auto) that was nearly a celebration of every sort of criminal violence. And yet the controversy was over the Hot Coffee thing and not the nature of the game. Which was more offensive? the lead character engaging in a sexual act, or the lead character killing others?

People's sense of morals is so screwed up. If games are to be mature entertainment as well there being games for younger consumers, then we all have to understand that games for grown ups may contain mature content, content that is sexually or violently explicit. These are not games for kids. When will people in general realize that video games are not kids toys any more? They are a universal form of entertainment that crosses generational boundaries.

Of course this tolerance for violence and the automatic disgust for sex is universal in some western nations, so I don't expect things will change for the better any time soon.

Ben I agree with your article and your post regarding other comments. This country has lost what it was founded on. Random Facts: over 50% of people polled no longer believe in the 10 commandments, 31% said they would kill a stranger in cold blood for 1 million dollars. This does not speak highly of the USA.

Parents find sex to be more offensive than violence, and oddly enough in the survey I am thinking of they also felt that depictions of heterosexual activity were somehow worse than homosexual.

In April 2008 'What they Play' conducted a survey of parents....The fist poll, asked participants to select from a list of choices which item would they find most offensive in a video game. The responses were: a man and woman having sex (37%); two men kissing (27%); a graphically severed head (25%); and multiple use of the F-word (9%). This survey had 1,266 participants.

Interesting that sex is considered more offensive than a severed head by 37%. Nearly as disturbing is the fact that an additional 27% found two men kissing to be more offensive than a severed head.

Astonishing isn't it? People truly are more scared of sex than anything else.

Late to the party, and concerned about my fellow gamers (but altogether, not surprised)...

I'm gay and a gamer. I'm proud of who I am, sure, but I never felt the need to announce my preference on this site because, until now, it was a non-issue. As an earlier poster stated, The bigger deal everyone makes of it, the bigger deal there is.

I don't have some hidden agenda to turn heteros into homos. I'm not here to recruit anyone to my line of thinking. But the negativity reflected in this thread needs to be countered. I say "Too bad" if you're tired of the issue being "shoved down your throat," but the issue isn't going anywhere for a long time.

Gay men and women everywhere just want to be seen as equals. Call it unnatural, call it sick and disgusting, but as more and more people become less ashamed of their own feelings, those negative views will be overshadowed. Myself, my gay brethren, our friends, families, colleagues, and many others believe we have a place in society other than the back of a closet. We're fighting for our rights, and that's something you're apt to see from time to time. Get used to it.

Change is inevitable. Adaptability is optional. It's not "chic" or "hip" to be gay, but it's very uncool to be a narrow-minded homophobe.

I'm straight, but the point I would like to make is I think it's ok to dislike a certain quality about a person without being viewed as a hater of the person. I don't think heterosexuals are given enough credit for tolerance for actions they don't prefer. I do not promote hatred or ridicule of any people.

Baloney. It seems to me that gay people don't wish to be seen as equals, but they want special treatment. They want disclaimers ALL the time. You say they don't want to make an issue of it, and yet, that's ALL they seem to do.

Forgive me, but all I can go by is what I see in the media and what is generally spoken about on the street. I think gay people at this point are IMMUNE to any negative statements or even connotations. When I say I'm sick of having it jammed down my throat, I mean it, and no, I'm not going to apologize for it.

In fact, to be brutally honest, I think straight, white males are sick of apologizing for everything every three minutes of the day. I know for a damn fact I am. There is absolutely ZERO "hating" of any kind in this thread; it's merely sticking up for something they believe in, which I THOUGHT gay people were all ABOUT.Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 7/6/2009 6:04:46 PM

I believe the M rating is enough to explain what the consumer is getting into. If you don't want to play a game with adult themes such as violence, profanity, or nudity than stick to the ratings below M. Developers nor the intended target of a game should have to alter the gaming experience in anyway to cater to the few who might find something offensive.

By the way it really pisses me off to see Saving Private Ryan on TnT at 8pm uncensored but I'm unable to watch Showgirls the same way on Spike at the same time.Last edited by LimitedVertigo on 7/6/2009 8:39:12 PM

@twenty8nineTurning off nudity in games? What nudity? There's been barely a handful of games that have used nudity in-game, with the possible exception of a new games that had 'nudity' modes that could be enabled using a cheat code or game patch.

The most recent game I can remember being criticized for being overly sexy/sexual was Soul Calibur - mostly because of Ivy's bounce, and the apparent enlargement of the breasts on Sophitia. However, there is no nudity in that game, at all. None.

As LV says, if you have a game that's rated M you should expect content that's suitable for mature gamers, that includes nudity. The rating for a game generally includes the reason for the rating.

As graphics become more lifelike and stories excel in part because of that the implementing of material you might find in a movie make their way to video games. I see no problem with sex/nudity if it adds to the story and character development.

The point of sex in games is the point of sex in any form of entertainment, it's part of the story, part of the drama.

Regarding vitual sex, or virtual nudity. The oil paintings of the great classic artists include many nudes that have over the centuries been considered very racy and arousing, and yet they are just images from the mind of the artist set in oil paint and are completely virtual. Computer generated images are no different from paintings or drawings.

I think that's exactly the point.
Gratuitous violence, intercourse, cursing, anything, is a negative mark against that which it's been injected into. And it insults my intelligence when people think they can distract me from the fact that their so-called 'art' is lacking in actual substance.

@Phoelix,
Don't get me started on those sick preverted social misfits at the Westboro Baptist Church.

I know all about them, they're just a bunch of scumbags that are nothing more than a cult masqurading as a Christian Church. They consist mostly of phelps, his family, some relitives, and a couple of others that he has also managed to brain-washed.

And that's exactly why the motorcycle group, the "Patriot Guard Riders" got started, just to combat the garbage of those f*ckheads sick twisted views & vile chants at fallen military member's funerals.

The PGR escorts & then stands in formation over the funerals, with their backs towards those douchebag protesters, standing between them & the families so the greiving won't have to see or deal with that scum.

As for our club, we'll do our own escorts for our fallen & stand against those WBC scum too, but we won't join in with the PGR. Our club would think nothing of knocking a few WBC heads togeteher if the scumbags are stupid enough to still be there after all the folks from the funeral are long gone.

Hell, the last time some of the WBC showed up, even the townsfolk stoned them with anything they could get their hands on, and then even smashed all the windows of their transportation van as they fled away in real terror.